Well pump operator means



Jan. 23, 1968 D. E. SABLE WELL PUMP OPERATOR MEANS Filed Sept. 30, 1965Fg.5 INVENT 1 Donald E. Sable BYA ATTORI 'L YS United States Patent ice3,364,998 WELL PUMP OPERATUR MEANS Donald E. Sable, 4413 WindsorParkway, Dallas, Tex. 75205 Filed Sept. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 491,596Claims. (Cl. 1456-175) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A sucker rod stringhaving a plurality of longitudinally spaced stops and scraperS mountedon the Sucker rod string for movement relative to the sucker rod stringbetween the stops, the stops being spaced to cause movement of thescrapers relative to both the Sucker rod and the internal surfaces ofthe well ow conductor during reciprocation of the sucker rod string.

This invention relates to well tools and more particularly to apparatusfor pumping liquids from a well.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatusfor pumping liquids from a well through a ow conductor, Such as a stringof tubing, by means of a reciprocable operator member, Such as a stringof Sucker rods, whose top is connected at the surface to a drive meansfor reciprocating the operator member and whose bottom end is connectedto a pump disposed in the lower end portion of the tubing whereby thereciprocation of the operator member actuates the pump and causes it topump liquid upwardly through the string of tubing and past the operatormember.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pumping apparatus havingmeans for scraping substantially the full length of the operator memberand of the internal surfaces of the tubing during the operation of thepumping apparatus.

Still another object is to provide a pumping apparatus wherein theoperator member is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spacedScrapers which prevent the accumulation of parain and the like on theoperator member and on the internal Surfaces of the tubing.

Still another object is to provide a pumping apparatus of the typedescribed wherein the resistance oiered by the Scrapers to the movementof the operator member is lowest at the time of initiation of eachupward and downward stroke of the operator member whereby the variationsin the loads to which the operator member and its drive means aresubjected are minimized.

A further object is to provide a pumping apparatus wherein theresistance to the movement of the operator member offered by theScrapers is at a minimum at the initiation of either the upward ordownward stroke of the operator member and increases only after theoperator member has moved approximately one-half the length of itsstroke and attained its substantially maximum velocity.

Still another object is to provide a pumping apparatus of the typedescribed wherein the Scrapers and the operator member are provided withmeans to cause the operator member to move relative to the scrapermembers during Substantially one half of each upward and downward strokeof the operator member to prevent accumulation of paran on the operatormember and to cause the Scrapers to move with the operator member duringSubstantially the other one half of each upward and downward stroke ofthe operator member to cause the Scrapers to move with the operatorrelative to the tubing and prevent accumulation of parain and the likeon the internal surfaces of the tubing.

A further object is to provide a pumping apparatus wherein the operatormember is provided with stop means spaced from one another approximatelyone-half the length 3,364,998 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 of the stroke ortravel of the operator member in the tubing and wherein a scraper ismounted on the rod between each pair of stop members whereby duringsubstantially the first half of the downward stroke of the operatormember the operator member moves downwardly relative to the Scrapers andduring substantially the succeeding half ofthe downward stroke of theoperator memer the stop means engage the Scrapers and move the Scrapersdownwardly in the tubing and, subsequently, during substantially the rsthalf of the suceeding upward stroke the operator member moves relativeto the scrapers during the rst half of the upward stroke and then movesthe Scrapers upwardly in the tubing during the last half of the upwardstroke.

Another object is to provide a new and improved scraper for a sucker rodwhich is easily mountable on the sucker rod and which has means forscraping the sucker rod and the internal surfaces of a tubing in whichthe sucker rod is reciprocaibly movable.

Still another object is to provide a scraper having passage slots whichpermit the ilow of fluids therepast when the scraper is in a tubing andmounted on a sucker rod.

Briey stated the operator member embodying the invention includes asucker rod string formed of a plurality of sucker rods at least some ofwhich have a plurality of longitudinally spaced stop means which arespaced from each other at approximately half the length of thereciprocable movement of the operator member in the tubing and Scrapersmovably mounted on the Shanks of the Sucker rods provided with the stopmeans between each adjacent pair of stop means, whereby duringsubstantially the first half of the downward stroke of the operatormember, the operator member moves downwardly relative to the Scrapersand during substantially the succeeding half of the downward stroke ofthe operator member the stop means engage the Scrapers and move theScrapers downwardly in the tubing, and subsequentially duringsubstantially the first half of the succeeding upward stroke of theoperator member, the operator member moves upwardly relative to theScrapers during the rst half of the upward stroke and then the stopmeans engage the scrapers and move the Scrapers upwardly in the tubingduring the last half ofthe upward stroke.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE l is a schematic illustration of a pumping apparatus for pumpinguids through a string of tubing from the well to the surface;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary partly Sectional View showing therelative position of the Scrapers relative to the sucker rod on whichthey are mounted at the instant of completion of the upward stroke ofthe sucker rod;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of a scraper;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of one of the Scrapers; and,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary Side view of a modified form of the sucker rodstops and Scrapers.

Referring now to the drawings, the pumping apparatus 10 is Shown in useto pump liquids from a well W to the surface through a String of tubingT which extends through the well casing C to the surface, the annulus Abetween the string of tubing and the casing adjacent the lower end ofthe tubing being closed by a packer P. The pumping apparatus includes anoperator member or string S of sucker rods 11 which are connected to oneanother by the usual box or Socket connections 12. The bottom end of thelowermost sucker rod 11n is connected to the plunger 15 of any suitablepump P, the plunger being telescoped in the barrel 16 of the pump. Thebarrel 2.,? is provided with a check valve i7, usually referred to asthe standing valve, which permits upward iiow into the barrel 16, butprevents downward flow therefrom, through the downwardly opening inleti8 of the barrel while the hollow plunger is provided with a check valve19, usually referred to as the traveling valve, which permits upwardflow through the inlet of the plunger and prevents downward ow throughthe inlet into the barrel. The barrel may constitute a section of thetubing or be positioned in the tubing by suitable lock to latch means.

It will be apparent that when the plunger is in its lowermost positionrelative to the barrel and is moved upv wardly, the well fluids aredrawn from the open lower end of the tubing, which is in communicationwith a producing formation of the well upwardly into the barrel, thestanding valve 17 moving to its open position and the traveling valve 19closing. During this upward movement of the plunger, the plunger movesupwardly in the tubing and moves the well fluids thereabove upwardly.When the plunger is in its upper most position relative to the barreland is moved downwardly therein, the standing valve closes to preventdownward flow of well fluids from the barrel through the aperture i8 andthe traveling valve opens to permit the well fluids in the barrel toiiow upwardly into the hollow plunger and then upwardly to the tubingthereabove. During this downward movement of the plunger, the string ofsucker rods also moves downwardly through the tubing and thereforeduring the downward stroke the well fluids are also caused to owupwardly in the tubing above the plunger as the plunger displaces thewell fluids in the barrel upwardly and as an additional length of thesucker rod string moves into the tubing at the surface.

The top end of the top sucker rod of the string extends upwardly throughthe wellhead 21 and is connected by a tiexible member or cable 22 to oneend of the usual walking beam 23, the cable extending past the usualhorsehead of the beam. The walking beam is oscillated about its pivot 25by a prime mover, such as an electric motor 26, by a suitable linkage27. This means for reciprocating the sucker rod string in the tubingbeing well known, it will not be described in detail. The well iiuidspumped from the well are transmitted to a suitable' reservoir or pointof use by the pipe 23 which is connected to the wellhead.

Each of the sucker rods has two or more Scrapers Sil slidably mounted onits shank 32 between the liared stop surfaces 33a and 33]; at oppositeends of the shank. The upward movement of the shank relative to thelowermost scraper 36d is limited by the engagement of the scraper withthe bottom stop surface 33h thereof and downward movement of the shankrelative to the top scraper 3tlg is limited by the engagement of itsstop surface 33a therewith. One or more stop members 35 are rigidlymounted on the shank at distances spaced from each other equal tosubstantially one-half of the length of the stroke or distance of travelof the string of sucker rods with the uppermost stop member 35a beingspaced substantially one half the length of the stroke from the stopsurface 33a and the lowermost stop member d being spaced substantiallyone-half the length of the stroke from the stop surface 33h. Theuppermost scraper 30a is thus positioned between the stop member a andthe stop surface 33a. The next lower scraper 36in is positioned on theshank between the stop members 35a and 35h, the next lower scraper 30Cis positioned between the stop members SSb 'and 35C and the lowermostscraper 35d is disposed between the stop members 35C and the stopsurface 33t?. The stop surfaces 33u and 33h and the stop members thusconstitute stops or stop means of the sucker rods engageable with theScrapers 30 to limit longitudinal movement of the sucker Vrod shankrelative to the Scrapers. The stops may be in the form of split rings orbe U-shaped and be secured to the shank by Welding or the like.

Each of the Scrapers is in the form of a tubular body 4 and is made of asomewhat resilient durable substance, such as nylon and the like. Eachscraper has an internal bore 4u whose diameter is slightly greater thanthe diameter of the shank 32 of the sucker rod. The external diameter ofthe Scrapers is slightly less than the internal diameter of the tubingin which it is to be employed.

The scraper also has a longitudinal slot 4l defined by the surfaces 42and 43 which extend convergently inwardly to the longitudinal edges 44and 45, respectively, at thejuncture of the surfaces with the internalsurface of the scraper defining the bore 40. The edges 44 and 45 arespaced apart a distance slightly smaller than the external diameter ofthe shank 32. The surfaces 42 and 43 defining the slot 41 are disposedin planes which extend at angles relative to the central longitudinalaxis of the scraper so that the scraper must be tilted about ahorizontal axis to permit the shank to be received and moved through theslot 41 and into the bore 40. The scraper tiexes resiliently outwardlyto permit the reception of the shank within its bore 40 since the inneredges 44 and 45 are spaced apart a distance smaller than the externaldiameter of the shank. As the shank is received within the bore 4t) ofthe stripper, the scraper is tilted back until its longitudinal axis isconcentric with the longitudinal axis of the sucker rod shank and thestripper is then in the position on the shank illustrated in thedrawings.

The stripper has top and bottom planar surfaces 48 and 49, respectively,which extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of its bore 40 andwith upper and lower outwardly convergent cam surfaces 51 and 52 whichfacilitate the movement of the scraper past internal obstructions in atubing.

The outer surface of the scraper is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced peripheral passages or slots 54 which extend atan angle to the central longitudinal axis of the scraper and which openupwardly through the upper cam surface 51 of the stripper and downwardlythrough the lower cani surface 52 thereof. The sides of the slots aredeiined by the facing surfaces S and 57' which at their juncture withthe outer surface 5S of the stripper denne the edges 59 and 6G,respectively. It will be apparent that the side surfaces S6 facedownwardly while the side surfaces 57 face upwardly. A top portion ofeach edge 59 at one side of a slot 54 extends over a bottom portion ofthe edge du at the other side of the slot. The upper and lower canisurfaces 51 and 52 at their juncture with the outer surface S8 of thescraper provide the annular edges 63 and 64 which are, of course,interrupted or cut by the slots 54.

When the stripper 3() is moved upwardly in the well casing, its outersurface 58 tends to slidably engage the internal surfaces of the tubingsince the normal external diameter of the stripper is only slightly lessthan the interna-l diameter of the tubing due to the lateral movement ofthe sucker rod string in the tubing caused by vibrations impartedthereto by the pump and the walking beams,

During upward movement of the scraper in the tubing, the scraper tendsto engage the internal surface of the tubing along a line from the point67 at the juncture of the surfaces 43, 52 and l5S to the point 69 at thejuncture of the surfaces 42., 5i and 58. The juncture of the sur-V faces43 and 58 defines the edge 71 and the juncture of the edges of thesurfaces 42 and 58 denes the edge 72, the edges 7l and 72 defining theoutermost limits of the slot 4l. It will be apparent that during suchupward movenient of the scraper this line of engagement of the scraperwith the internal surfaces is detined by the edges 7l, 63 and rit).During downward movement of the scraper in the tubing, the scraperengages the internal surfaces of the tubing along a line from the point`d'7 to the point 69 l along a line defined by the edges '72, 64 and 59.

The narrow circumferential gap between the points 67 and 69 whichprevents the lline of engagement to be a closed circle, allows a narrowVertical strip of the internal surface of the tubing not to be scrapedby the scraper at any one location of the tubing during any onelongitudinal movement of the scraper past such location. Due to theangular inclination of tht peripheral slots 54 relative to thelongitudinal central axis of the scraper, and the consequent inclinationof the edges 59 and 60 relative to the central axis of the scraper, thefrictional engagement of the outer surface of the scraper with theinternal surfaces of the tubing during the continuous reciprocatingmovement of a scraper within the tubing, will cause the scraper torotate and cause all internal surfaces of the tubing to be scrapedthereby` If desired, of course, the slot 41 may be formed at such anangle that the upper portion of the edge 72 will be located over thelower portion of the edge 71, in which case the line of engagement ofthe scraper will tend to be in the form of a closed circle and norotation of the scraper need take place. The line of engagement betweenthe points 67 and 69, of

course, need not necessarily be a continuous line if the f scraper mustrotate to ensure scraping of the full circular surface of the tubing dueto the circumferential gap between the points 67 and 69.

The pitch, or angular inclination of the slots, may be varied as desiredto provide the desired mechanical strength of the scraper and to lpermita relatively low resistance to the flow of the -well liuids past thescraper.

In use, if the operator member or string S of sucker rods 11 is at theupper end of its stroke, the Scrapers on each sucker rod are thepositions illustrated in FIGURE 2 wherein the lowermost scraper 30dengages the stop surface 33d of the sucker rod and the other scrapers30e, 30b and 30a are engaged by the stops 35e, 35b and 35a,respectively. The sucker rod is now momentarily at rest at the instantor its reversal of its direction of movement from up to down. Theoscillation of the walking beam now causes its lhorsehead to movedownwardly permitting the weight of the string of sucker rods and of theplunger of the pump to cause the sucker rod string to start to movedownwardly. The force of the frictional engagement of each scraper withthe shank of the sucker rod on which it is mounted is considerably lessthan the :torce of the frictional engagement of its outer surface 58with the internal surface of the tubing and, since the Shanks are nowIfree to move relative to the Scrapers, the Scrapers remain stationaryas the sucker rods move downwardly therethrough and are scraped thereby.The Scrapers now offer a minimum resistance to the downward movement ofthe sucker rod string through the tubing. As the sucker rod string movesdownwardly relative to the Scrapers, it moves the plunger of the pumpdownwardly in its barrel causing the well fluids in the barrel to Ibedisplaced upwardly from the barrel and to flow upwardly in the tubing asthe sucker rod string moves into the tubing. This upward ow of fluidthrough the tubing and the passages 54 of the Scrapers tends to exert anupward force on the Scrapers aiding in holding the Scrapers againstdownward movement in the tubing. As the sucker rod string continues tomove downwardly, its movement is accelerated as its inertia and theinertia of the well iluid being displaced upwardly is overcome and, asit approaches substantially the mid-point of its down stroke of traveland attains substantially its maximum velocity of downward movement inthe tubing, the upper stop surface 33a of each sucker rod engages thetop planar surface 48 of the top scraper 30a and the stops 35a, 35b and35cengage the top surfaces 48 of the Scrapers 30b, 30e and 30d. TheScrapers are then moved downwardly by the sucker rod string in thetubing scraping any parafn deposits which may be accumulating on theinternal surfaces of the tubing. When the Sucker rod string reaches thelower limit of its stroke it momentarily comes to rest and then is movedupwardly as the walking beam is pivoted upwardly. At the initiation ofthe upward movement of the sucker rod string, the scrapers again tend tobe stationary in the tubing due to their weight and because the forcewith which they frictionally engage the internal surfaces of the tubingis considerably greater than the frictional force with which they engagethe Shanks of the sucker rods. The scrapers, as the sucker rod stringmoves upwardly therethrough, now scrape o any parafiin which may havedeposited on the shanks of the sucker rods. As thesucker rod stringbegin-s to move upwardly, the traveling valve of the pump closes and itsstanding valve opens. The column of well uids in the tubing above theplunger is moved upwardly and simultaneously well iluids are drawninwardly into the barrel since the standing valve is now opened. As theinertia of the sucker rod string and of the column of well uids in thetubing is overcome, the load on the walking beam and on the prime moverIwhich drives it tends to decrease and the velocity of -upward Imovementof t-he sucker rod increases. As the sucker rod string approachessubstantially the mid-point of its upward stroke of movement and itsvelocity approaches its maximum, the bottom stop surface 336- of eachsucker rod engages the lowermost stripper 30d mounted thereon and thestops 35C, 35b and 35a engage the bottom surfaces of the strippers 30e,30b and 30a and the strippers are then moved upwardly in the tubing withthe sucker rod during the remaining 'half of the upward stroke.

The strippers thus scrape substantially the full length of each suckerrod during the reciprocation of the sucker rod String in the tubing withthe exception of the location of the connections of adjacent ends ofadjacent sucker rods. Since at these locations the sucker rods are ofgreater external dimensions than the external diameter of their Shanks,the velocity of low and the turbulence of the well iluids as they l'lowpast these portions of the sucker rods not scraped by the Scrapers isrelatively great and paran does not tend to accumulate or deposit onthese portions. Any paran which tends to deposit thereon is removed bysuch high velocity and turbulent ilow of the well fluids therepast.Similarly, no paraffin tends to accumulaate on the external surfaces ofthe stop members 35 themselves, since there is increase in velocity andin the turbulence in the well fluids ilowing therepast during theoperation of the sucker rod string as the stop members approach andengage the Scrapers.

The sucker rods which are in the zones in the tubing at which paraiintends to move out of solution or to solidify and deposit on the suckerrods and the tubing are provided with the -scrapers and substantiallythe full length of the tubing at such portions is scraped by theScrapers during the continued reciprocable movement of the operatormember or sucker rod string the path of movement of adjacent scrapersoverlapping. The distance between adjacent stop surfaces 33a and 33h ofadjacent connected ends of adjacent sucker Irods is, of course,considerably shorter than half the length of the stroke of the suckerrod string.

It will be apparent that the sucker rod is moved relative to theScrapers during substantially one-half of each stroke and that therelatively large possible area of frictional engagement of the outersurface 58 of the Scrapers with the tubing provides a greater-frictional force tending to hold the Scrapers against 4movement in thetubing than the frictional lforce tending to hold the Shanks of thesucker rods against movement relative to the Scrapers due to therelatively smaller total possible area of trictional engagement of thesucker Irods -with the Shanks of the sucker rods.

It will be apparent that the IScrapers offer a relatively smallresistance to the movement of the sucker rod string at the time thevelocity of movement of the sucker rod string is low and offer a greaterresistance thereto when the velocity of upward movement of the suckerrod reaches substantially its maximum thus minimizing the stresses andstrains, or loads, imposed on the sucker rod string and on the drivemeans at the Surface of the wel which reciprocates the sucker rod stringin the tubing.

It will further be seen that a pumping apparatus has been illustratedand descri-bed wherein the operator member o-r string S of sucker rodsis provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced AScrapers whichprevent the accumulation of paraffin and the like on the operator memberand on the internal surfaces of the tubing in which the operator memberis reciprocated by a drive means at the surface of the well and whereinthe Scrapers are reciprocated in the tubing by the operator member dueto the engagement of spaced stop means of the operator member with theScrapers which limit longitudinal movement of the operator memberrelative to each scraper.

it will also be seen that stop lmeans are preferably spaced apart adistance substantially equal to one half the length of the stroke of theoperator member which is considerably shorter than the length of thesucker rods which forms the operator member. For example, if the suckerrod is twenty-live feet in length and the length of stroke is `fourfeet, either eleven or twelve stops are secured to the sucker rod shankand in the former case twelve, and in the latter case thirteen Scrapersare disposed on the shank between the stops and between the top andbottom stops and the top and bottom stop suryfaces 33a and 33b of thesucker rod. ln the former case the stops are spaced apart a distanceSomewhat greater than one halt the length of the stroke and in thelatter a distance somewhat less than one-half the length of the stroke.Due to the vibrations and the alternate stretching and contractionimparted to the sucker -rod string and the tubing string during pumping,and the turbulent ow of the well fluids past the Scrapers, the Scraperstend to maintain both the sucker rod and the tubing `free of paraiineven though they are spaced apart. a distance greater than one-half thelength of the stroke. In any case, the stops must be spaced apart adistance somewhat smaller than the full length of the stroke.

It will further be seen that the resistance to the movement of theoperator member caused by the engagement thereof with the Scrapers islowest at the time of initiation Vof each upward and downward stroke ofthe operator member whereby the variations in the loads to which theoperator member and its drive means are subjected during the operationof the pumping apparatus are minimized.

it will further be apparent that the stop means of the operator meansare spaced along the length of the operator member to cause the operatormember to move relative to the Scrapers during substantially one half ofeach upward and downward stroke of the operator member in the tubing andto cause the Scrapers to move with the operator member duringsubstantially the second half of each upward and downward stroke of theoperator member.

lt will further be seen that a new and improved scraper for sucker rodshas been illustrated and described which is easily mountable on a suckerrod and which has means for scraping the Sucker rod and the internalsurfaces of a tubing in which the sucker rod is reciprocably movable. Itwill also be seen that a scraper has been illustrated and describedwhich has external longitudinally extending slots which permit the flowof well lluids therepast when the scraper is in the tubing and mountedon a sucker rod and that the scraper has external surfaces which engagethe scraper along a substantially continuous circular line.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 of the drawing, the scrapers 30' and the stops35' are substantially similar to the Scrapers 39 and stops 35 of thepumping apparatus illustrated in FIGURE ll and accordingly have beenprovided with the same reference numerals to which subscript has beenadded. he Scrapers 30 have longitudinally oppositely extending tlanges101 and 102 which extend about the scraper to the sides of the slot 41'and which are provided with teeth lS. The stops 35 are provided at theirupper and lower edges with teeth 104 and 105, the downwardly facingteeth on the lower edge of one stop 35 being oitset circumferentially ashort distance, less than one tooth, from the teeth 104 in the upperedge of the next lower stop member. The provisions of these serratedilanges 91 and 102 and the stop members 35 provided with teeth so offsetcauses each scraper to be rotated due to the meshing of the teeth of itsupper and lower ilanges alternately with the lower and upper teeth ofthe stop members between which it is mounted on the shank 32 of theSucker rod il.

It will be apparent that the provision of such toothed stop members andScrapers with Such flanges will insure the Scrapers will rotate in apredetermined direction about the sucker rod Shanks during thereciprocation of the Sucker rod string in the tubing which may bedesirable in some well installations if the slots of the Scrapersthrough which the Shanks move into the bores of the Scrapers are of Suchpitch or inclination relative to the central axis of the Scrapers thatthe outer edges thereof do not overlap longitudinally.

it will now be seen that while it is preferable that the stop means ofthe sucker rods, between each adjacent pair of Scrapers are mounted, bespaced substantially one half the length of the stroke of the sucker rodstring to reduce the number of stop members and Scrapers, to ensure thatthe sucker rod string attains Substantially its full velocity duringwhich stroke before the stop means engage the Scrapers, to minimize theresistance offered by the Scrapers to the movement of the sucker rodstring, and at the same time ensure that the full length of the tubingbe scraped, the stop means could be spaced apart a distance less thanone half the length of the stroke, eg., one third the length in whichcase the sucker rod string would travel only one third the length of itsstroke before the Stop means would engage the Scrapers and the Scraperswould then be moved thereby during the remaining two thirds of itsstroke.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An operator member reciprocable in a tubing of a well for actuating apump which moves well iluids upwardly through the tubing, said operatormember comprising: a plurality of sucker rods connected at adjacent endsthereof to constitute said operator member, each of said rods having anelongate Shank, at least some of said rods having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced stop means, adjacent ones of said stop means ofeach of said rods being spaced from each other a distance substantiallyequal to one half the length of the reciprocable movement of saidoperator member in a tubing; and a scraper movably mounted on said shankbetween each adjacent pair of stop means, each of said Scrapers having alongitudinal bore in which the shank of the rod on which it is mountedis received, said Scrapers having passage means permitting flow offluids therepast in a tubing.

2. An operator member reciprocable in a tubing of a well for actuating apump which moves well fluids upwardly through the tubing, said operatormember comprising: a plurality of sucker rods connected at adjacent endsthereof to constitute said operator member, each of Said rods having anelongate shank, at least some of said rods having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced stop means, adjacent ones of said stop meansof'each of said rods being spaced from each other a distancesubstantially equal to one half the lengtn of the reciprocable movementof Said operator member in a tubing; and a scraper mounted on saidShanks between each adjacent pair of stop means, each of said Scrapershaving a longitudinal bore in which the shank of the rod on which it ismounted is received, each of said Scrapers having a longitudinal slotopening from the exterior thereof to said bore of said scraper throughwhich the shank of a sucker rod is movable into said bore and aplurality of circumferentially spaced flow passages.

3. An operator member reciprocable in a tubing of a well for actuating apump which moves well fluids upwardly through the tubing, said operatormember comprising: a plurality of sucker rods connected at adjacent endsthereof to constitute said operator member, each of said rods having anelongate shank, at least some of said rods having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced stop means, adjacent ones of said stop means ofeach of said rods being spaced from each other a distance substantiallyequal to one half the length of the reciprocable movement of saidoperator member in a tubing; and a scraper mounted on said shanksbetween each adjacent pair of stop means, each of said scrapers having alongitudinal bore in which the shank of the rod on which it is mountedis received, each of said scrapers having a longitudinal slot opening toits longitudinal bore through which said shank is movable into said boreand a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly opening slots,said slots extending at an angle to the longitudinal central axis ofsaid bore whereby the external surfaces of said scrapers tend to providea continuous line of engagement between opposite sides of said mountingslots with the internal surfaces of tubing in which it is disposed.

4. An operator member reciprocable in a tubing of a well for actuating apump which moves well fluids upwardly through the tubing, said operatormember cornprising: a plurality of sucker rods connected at adjacentends thereof to constitute said operator member, each of said rodshaving an elongate shank, at least some of said rods having a pluralityof longitudinally spaced stop means, adjacent ones of said stop means ofeach of said rods being spaced from each other a distance substantiallyequal to one half the length of the reciprocable movement of saidoperator member in a tubing; and a scraper mounted on said shanksbetween each adjacent pair of stop means, each of said scrapers having alongitudinal bore in which the shank of the rod on which it is mountedis received, each of said scrapers having a longitudinal slot opening toits longitudinal bore through which said shank is movable into said boreand a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly opening slots.

5. An operator member reciprocable in a tubing of a well for actuating apump which moves Well uids upwardly through the tubing, said operatormember comprising: a plurality of sucker rods connected at adjacent endsthereof to constitute said operator member, each of said rods having anelongate shank, at least some of said rods having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced stop means, adjacent ones of said stop means ofeach of said rods being spaced from each other a distance substantiallyequal to one half the length of the reciprocable movement of saidoperator member in a tubing; and a scraper movably mounted on said shankbetween each adjacent pair of stop means, each of said scrapers having alongitudinal bore in whi-ch the shank of the rod on which it is mountedis received, said scrapers having passage means permitting ow of iiuidstherepast in a tubing, said longitudinal bores of said scrapers havingdiameters slightly greater than the external diameters of said shanks,said scrapers having external diameters slightly smaller than theinternal diameter of the tubing.

6. An operator member reciprocable in a tubing of a well for actuating apump which moves Well uids upwardly through the tubing, said operatormember comprising: a plurality of sucker rods connected at adjacent endsthereof to constitute said operator member, each of said rods having anelongate shank, at least some of said rods having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced stop means, adjacent ones of said stop means ofeach of said rods being spaced from each other a distance substantiallyequal to one-half the length of the reciprocable movement of saidoperator member in a tubing; and a scraper mounted on said shanksbetween each adjacent pair of stop means, each of said scrapers having alongitudinal slot opening from the exterior thereof to said bore of saidscraper through which the shank of a sucker rod is movable into saidbore and a plurality of circumferentially spaced flow passages, saidlongitudinal bores of said scrapers having diameters slightly greaterthan the external diameters of said shanks, said scrapers havingexternal diameters slightly smaller than the internal diameter of thetubing.

7. An operator member reciprocable in a tubing of a well for actuating apump which moves well fluids upwardly through the tubing, said operatormember comprising: a plurality of sucker rods connected at adjacent endsthereof to constitute said operator member, each of said rods having anelongate shank, at least some of said rods having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced stop means, adjacent ones of said stop means ofeach of said rods being spaced from each other a distance substantiallyequal to one-half the length of the reciprocable movement of saidoperator member in a tubing; and a scraper mounted on said Shanksbetween each adjacent pair of stop means, each of said scrapers having alongitudinal bore in which the shank of the rod on which it is mountedis received, each of said scrapers having a longitudinal slot opening toits longitudinal bore through which said shank is movable into said boreand a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly opening slots,said slots extending at an angle to the longitudinal central axis ofsaid bore whereby the external surfaces of said scrapers tend to providea continuous line of engagement between opposite sides of said mountingslots with the internal surfaces of tubing in which it is disposed, saidlongitudinal bores of said scrapers having diameters slightly greaterthan the external diameters of said Shanks, said scrapers havingexternal diameters slightly smaller than the internal diameter of thetubing.

8. An operator member reciprocable in a tubing of a well for actuating apump which moves well fluids upwardly through the tubing, said operatormember comprising: a plurality of sucker rods connected at adjacent endsthereof to constitute said operator member, each of said rods having anelongate shank, at least some of said rods having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced stop means, adjacent one of said stop means ofeach of said rods being spaced from each other a distance substantiallyequal to one-half the length of the reciprocable movement of saidoperator member in a tubing; and a scraper mounted on said shanksbetween each adjacent pair of stop means, each of said scrapers having alongitudinal bore in which the shank of the rod on which it is mountedis received, each of said scrapers having a longitudinal slot opening toits longitudinal bore through which said shank is movable into said boreand a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly opening slots,said longitudinal bores of said scrapers having diameters slightlygreater than the external diameters of said Shanks, said scrapers havingexternal diameters slightly smaller than the internal diameter of thetubing.

9. An operator member reciprocable in a tubing of a well for actuating apump which moves well fluids upwardly through the tubing, said operatormember comprising: a plurality of sucker rods connected at adjacent endsthereof to constitute said operator member, each of said rods having anelongate shank, at least some of said rods having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced stop means, adjacent ones of said stop means beingspaced from each other a distance substantially less than the length ofthe reciprocable movement of said operator member in a tubing; and ascraper movably mounted on said shank between each adjacent pair of stopmeans, each of said scrapers having a longitudinal bore in which theshank of the rod on which it is mounted is received, each of saidscrapers having a longitudinal slot opening to its l i longitudinal borethrough which said shank is movable into said bore and a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced slots permitting ow of fluids past said scraperin a tubing, said longitudinal bores of said scrapers having diametersslightly greater than the external diameters of said Shanks, saidscrapers having external diameters slightly smaller than the internaldiameter of the tubing, said Scrapers being frictionally engageable withthe tubing for causing said Scrapers to tend to remain stationary in thetubing and be movable therein by the force exerted thereon by said stopmeans when engaged thereby.

10. An operator member reciprocable in a tubing of a Well for actuatinga pump which moves Well fluids upwardly through the tubing, saidoperator member comprising: a plurality of sucker rods connected atadjacent ends thereof to constitute said operator member, each of saidrods having an elongate shank, at least some of said rods having aplurality of longitudinally spaced stop means, adjacent ones of saidstop means being spaced from each other a distance substantially lessthan the length of the reciprocable movement of said operator member ina tubing; and a scraper movably mounted on l?. said shank between eachadjacent pair of stop means, each of said Scrapers having a longitudinalbore in which the shank of the rod on which it is mounted is received,said scrapers having passage means permitting flow of iluids therepastin a tubing, said longitudinal bores of said Scrapers having diametersslightly greater than the external diameters of said Shanks, saidscrapers having external diameters slightly smaller than the internaldiametenof the tubing, said stop means and said Scrapers having coengageable means for Aimparting rotational movement to said Scrapers. y

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES n. ocoNNnL, Primm-yExaminer.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,364,998 January Z3, 1968 Donald E. Sable shown below:

Column l0, line 3, after "longitudinal" insert bore in which the shankof the rod on which it is mounted is received, each of said Scrapershaving a longitudinal (SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER,

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

